WASHfunders.org Blog Post

Editor’s Note: This guest post is authored by our colleagues at the U.S. Water Partnership, who announced the launch of H2infO, a new web platform that provides global access to U.S.-generated data and knowledge on WASH. The official launch, hosted by Catherine Novelli, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, took place yesterday afternoon at the U.S. State Department.  

Taking the first step in combating a problem is often the most challenging. For infants, that exhilarating first step unleashes a new freedom that takes them to new places (and sometimes trouble). Unfortunately, thousands of children may never take that first step or will experience increased difficulty due to stunting, as a result of unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

While water challenges vary across the globe, these issues are solvable. However, decision makers worldwide need to be equipped with the right tools to harness innovative technologies, expertise and resources to build sustainable solutions. Accessing useful information is the first step for designing these lasting solutions, but finding the right type of information can be a daunting task for users in developing countries.

In response, the U.S. Water Partnership (USWP) announced the launch of H2infO – a new platform that offers the global community easy on-line access to a growing library of U.S.-generated water data and knowledge. The United States has information and solutions to share.  However, our knowledge has been too fragmented for accessible use – until now. 

Launched on October 6, H2infO harnesses U.S.-based information and connects people to the data, knowledge and resources they need to address water challenges.  The portal currently hosts over 3,000 resources from leading institutions and more resources will be centrally accessible as this interactive tool continues to expand.. 

Step 1 – Visit H2infO

H2infO was developed by the U.S. Water Partnership, a public-private alliance formed to unite and mobilize U.S. expertise, resources and ingenuity to address water challenges where needs are the greatest. The U.S. Department of State provided additional support in the development of H2infO. The 3,000 resources currently hosted on H2infO are exclusively from U.S. Water Partnership members, a growing coalition of over 90 partners, including 19 federal agencies, academia, private companies, foundations and NGOs. Additional resources will be added to the portal regularly.

Step 2 – Explore the resources

H2infO was designed to help create catalytic solutions to diverse water challenges throughout the developing world. The portal serves as a water resource librarian – directing users to resources and linking them to relevant websites. Policymakers, service providers and service developers worldwide are able to access resources to engage in the following USWP themes: WASH, integrated water resource management, efficiency and productivity, and governance. Available H2infO resources range from training manuals and water scarcity maps to case studies and project reports.

For example, a policy maker in Angola can learn from experiences in Arizona on how to best manage water resources in times of drought; NGOs in the field can easily find training manuals to help design programs that build on decades of experiences; and lessons on trans-boundary water management in the Colorado River Basin can help build good neighbors in international river basins.

Step 3 – Build your toolset

H2infO recognizes the value of connecting multiple stakeholders to contribute resources from federal agencies, private sector, civil society and universities.  Water challenges cut across multiple sectors such as health, energy, and food.  A robust set of tools prepares decision makers to navigate these diverse sectors to build lasting solutions.

Climate change and population dynamics are among the factors to add stress on global demand and water supply. Decision makers around the world will increasingly search for available data and information on these topics. H2infO is the first installment of the U.S. Water Partnership’s commitment to the President’s Climate Data Initiative, which is a key deliverable of the President’s Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution in America, prepare communities for the impacts of climate change and lead international efforts to address this global challenge. A recent White House Council on Environmental Quality fact sheet recognized H2infO as a platform to help create a “virtual community of practice to share data, experiences, lessons and practices,” consistent with the goals of the Initiative.

The U.S. Water Partnership is excited to work with partners in the water sector to build on this platform and expand the diverse library of resources.  H2infO is now live at www.H2infO.us.

- See more at: http://www.washfunders.org/Blog/h2info-finding-your-water-solution-is-as-easy-as-1-2-3#sthash.xYtncChs.dpuf